7 Mountain hikes you can take from Hotel Union Geiranger
If you're staying at Hotel Union Geiranger, there are several beautiful hikes within walking distance. The mountains and nature surrounding the hotel offer both stunning views and challenging terrain. Before embarking on any hike, make sure to follow safety advice for the World Heritage area.
Choosing the right hike for you: All hikes are divided into 4 difficulty levels. It's easy to get excited, but don't push yourself too hard. Make sure to choose a hike that suits your (and the rest of your hiking party's) level. The difficulty levels for the hikes are divided as follows:
Green route: Suitable for beginners and can be completed by most.
Blue route: Suitable for hikers with basic skills and some experience in terrain.
Red route: Suitable for experienced hikers with good hiking equipment and sturdy mountain boots.
Black route: Suitable for experienced mountaineers and endurance athletes.
The mountains in Geiranger offer many fantastic viewpoints. Not all of them are secured, so be very careful when moving around these areas. Around rivers and waterfalls, it's often slippery, so tread cautiously to avoid falling!
Show respect for cultural heritage: When you go on a hike, there's a good chance you'll come across cultural heritage sites and other traces of the past, such as mountain farms, summer pastures, and stone walls. To take the best possible care of these, we hope that everyone setting out on a hike from Hotel Union Geiranger will follow the Norwegian Fjord Center's "Fjord Etiquette Rules," which among other things, ask that you do not move stones or walls.
Pack your bag with the right equipment: The weather in our region can change quickly, so it's a good idea to check the forecast before you set out. Even if the sun is shining when you leave the hotel, you may not have the same good weather for the entire hike or when you reach your destination. Dress warmly, wear good mountain boots, and consider bringing extra clothing in your backpack.
Make sure to bring enough water and perhaps a snack if you're going a long way. The hotel offers its own packed lunch that you can purchase. It includes wraps (choose from various fillings), something sweet (muffins or scones), a choice of a bottle of mineral water, and a piece of fruit.
If you're unsure about anything, whether it's weather conditions, snow conditions, or the trail route, feel free to ask at the reception, and we'll be happy to help you. On the Fjord Center's website, you'll find more information for those planning to go hiking in Geiranger.
1: Westerås Farm
Westerås Farm is located right behind the hotel and is a nice hike where you can experience both wildlife and views of the fjord and mountains. The hike starts by turning left onto the road just behind the parking lot of Hotel Union Geiranger. From here, the trail is signposted all the way to Westerås Farm.
The hike continues on a wide and clear path through the forest, with large parts being stone-laid stairs. Along the trail, you can see ruins of both old haylofts and walls. When you arrive at the farm, you may encounter sheep, goats, and llamas, so be sure to close the gates after you!
For those who want to go on a longer mountain hike, Westerås Farm is the starting point for hikes to Vesteråsfjellet (225 meters above sea level), Løsta (500 meters above sea level), Storsæterfossen (550 meters above sea level), and Vesteråssætra (650 meters above sea level). Descriptions of all these hikes can be found in this article.
Length: 1.5 km
Elevation gain: 300 meters above sea level
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: January-December, Depending on snow conditions. Check avalanche warnings on varsom.no or feel free to ask us at the reception before you start your hike.
2: Vesteråsfjellet
This hike starts by going up to Westerås Farm (see description in hike no. 1 in the article). When you reach the farm, go through the yard and further out onto the mountain. Here you may encounter sheep, goats, and llamas grazing, so be sure to close the gate after you! This part of the hike has very slight incline and goes on a clear and wide path.
After about 500 meters, the trail splits in two. Stay to the left and follow this trail until you reach a shed. Just below, you'll find the viewpoint Vesteråsfjellet with a spectacular view of Geirangerfjorden and the village.
Length: 3 km
Elevation gain: 225 meters above sea level
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: April-October. Depending on snow conditions. Check avalanche warnings on varsom.no or feel free to ask us at the reception before you start your hike.
3: Løsta
The hike starts by first going up to Westerås Farm (see description in hike no. 1 in the article).
When you reach the farm, go through the yard and further out onto the mountain. Here you may encounter sheep, goats, and llamas grazing, so be sure to close the gate after you!
After about 500 meters, the trail splits in two. The trail that goes to the left will lead you to the viewpoint Vesteråsfjellet (see description in hike no. 2 in the article). To get to Løsta, continue on the trail that now ascends diagonally up the mountainside. Here, you'll walk in gently undulating terrain until you reach the viewpoint Løsta (500 meters above sea level). From here, you can look back at the village and see Geirangerfjorden from a new and different perspective.
Length: about 5 km.
Elevation gain: 500 meters above sea level.
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: May/June - October. Depending on snow conditions. Check avalanche warnings on varsom.no or feel free to ask us at the reception before you start your hike.
4: Storsæterfossen
The hike up to the mighty Storsæterfossen is one of the most popular mountain hikes in Geiranger. Start by going up to Westerås Farm (see description in hike no. 1 in the article). From here, you can choose between two different routes. The steeper one starts from the parking lot of the farm and is about 1.5 km. The other starts about 50 meters before the parking lot and is about 2 km.
Up by Storsæterfossen, you can follow a path that goes behind the waterfall and have a unique experience where the water rushes down in front of you. There are railings here, so it should be safe to walk.
Length: 3.5-4 km.
Elevation gain: 550 meters above sea level.
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: May-October. Depending on snow conditions. Check avalanche warnings on varsom.no or feel free to ask us at the reception before you start your hike.
5: Vesteråssætra
To get to Vesteråssætra, you must first go up to Storsæterfossen via Westerås Farm (see description in hike no. 1 and 4 in the article). From Storsæterfossen, the hike continues through Vesteråsdalen in simple and open terrain. The first part can be somewhat wet, and you will also have to cross the river before reaching Vesteråssætra. This river can be large in the spring during the peak snowmelt, but it becomes smaller and easier to cross as summer progresses.
In the summertime, you often encounter sheep grazing here with the old summer pasture houses. Together with the sound of the river flowing towards the waterfall, this is a peaceful place to sit down with your packed lunch and enjoy nature.
Length: 4.5 km
Elevation gain: 650 meters above sea level.
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: June-September/October. Depending on snow conditions. Check avalanche warnings on varsom.no or feel free to ask us at the reception before you start your hike.
6: Fosseråsa
Fosseråsa is the first authorized national tourist path in Norway. It starts in the center of Geiranger, at the bottom of Fossevandringa, and goes up to Storsæterfossen. Hotel Union Geiranger is located at the top of Fossevandringa, but to get the full experience, we recommend going down to the center to start.
To find the starting point, head to the Joker store and follow the road past the school and over the bridge. From here, you will ascend the 327 stairs along Storfossen. Along the way, you'll get up close to the roaring waterfall and experience both a great view and high plateaus that extend over the waterfalls. If it's windy or there's a lot of water in the river, be prepared to get a bit wet in your hair!
From the top of Fossevandringa, the hike continues past Hotel Union Geiranger. Shortly after the parking lot, turn left and follow the signs to Westerås Farm. The hike continues on a wide and clear path through the forest, with large parts being stone-laid stairs. Along the trail, you can see ruins of both old haylofts and walls. When you arrive at the farm, you may encounter sheep, goats, and llamas, so be sure to close the gates after you!
From Westerås Farm, you can choose between two routes. The steeper one starts from the parking lot of Westerås Farm and is about 1.5 km. The other starts about 50 meters before the parking lot and is about 2 km.
Up by Storsæterfossen, you can follow a path that goes behind the waterfall and have a unique experience where the water rushes down in front of you. There are railings here, so it should be safe to walk.
Length: 5 km.
Elevation gain: 550 meters above sea level.
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: The first part can be done year-round, while the upper parts depend on snow conditions. Check avalanche warnings on varsom.no or feel free to ask us at the reception before you start your hike.
7: Skageflå
Skageflå is the most famous mountain farm in Geiranger and is located on a mountain ledge at 250 meters above sea level. Here, you get a spectacular view straight towards Geirangerfjorden and the waterfall "The Seven Sisters".
The hike to Skageflå is long but can be shortened by taking the boat that runs between Geiranger center and Skagehola, so you can either start or finish the hike with a boat trip on Geirangerfjorden. From Skagehola to Skageflå, there is a very steep path that is partially secured with railings.
If you want to walk from Hotel Union Geiranger to Skageflå, take Fossevandringa down to the center, then turn left and follow the road towards Homlong. This part of the hike is about 3 km. In Homlong, follow the signs towards Homlongsætra and Skageflå. The first part of the hike up to Homlongsætra goes on a good path with a gentle incline. From Homlongsætra, continue across the mountain before descending towards the mountain farm and the beautiful view. It's nice to sit by the old huts and eat your packed lunch before starting the hike back to the hotel (or take the boat back to Geiranger from Skagehola).
Length: 9 km (one way if you walk from the hotel to Skageflå. Approximately 6 km if you take the boat one way).
Elevation gain: 540 meters above sea level.
Difficulty: Demanding
Season: End of May-October, Depending on snow conditions. Check avalanche warnings on varsom.no or feel free to ask us at the reception before you start your hike.
